music

The Spanish singer-songwriter Julio Iglesias was a professional footballer signed with Real Madrid. When he was recovering from an accident that ended his career, a nurse gave him a guitar so that he could recover the dexterity of his hands. In learning to play, he discovered his musical talent.

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While writing the popular 1990s song Friday I’m in Love, The Cure frontman Robert Smith became convinced that he stole the tune from somewhere, and was so paranoid that he called every person he knew and played the song for them, asking if they recognized it. It was, indeed, unique.

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During a concert in Ireland, Dave Mustaine (of Megadeth) drunkenly dedicated a song to “the cause” and yelled “give Ireland back to the Irish!”. A riot then broke out between the Catholics and Protestants and Megadeath had to travel in a bulletproof bus.

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The YMCA sued the Village People over their “YMCA” song for trademark infringement, but the two sides settled out of court and the YMCA later expressed pride towards the band for their song as a salute their organization.

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The first streaming music service started in 1897. Users in New York could pick up their phones and connect to the Telharmonium, a central hub that would pipe music being played live by two musicians playing 24 hours a day.

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The 2000 hit “Who Let The Dogs Out” by the Baha Men was a cover of a ’98 song “Doggies” by Anslem Douglas, which was informed by a ’94 techno hit by Twenty Fingers, which was taken from a ’92 hit by Miami Boom, which likely was inspired by a ’86 TX highschool football chant.

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Carl Sagan’s team wanted to include the Beatles song “Here Comes the Sun” on the Voyager Golden Records (discs containing greetings in 60 languages, music and sounds from Earth aboard both Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977), but the record company EMI, which held the copyrights, declined.

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In 1942 the song “Deep in the Heart of Texas” was banned by BBC during working hours on the grounds that its infectious melody might cause wartime factory-hands to neglect their tools while they clapped in time with the song.

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After a head injury, Derek Amato was diagnosed with Acquired Musical Savant Syndrome, and suddenly could play expert level piano. When asked during an interview to perform a simple song, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. He attempted, struggled, and gave up.